Swimming fin



Sept. 15, 1959 J. L. wozENcRAFT SWIMMING FIN Filed Oct. 6, 1955 ...will

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United States Patent SWIMMNG FIN John L. Wozel'icraft, Pascagoula, Miss.

Application October 6, 1955, Serial No. 538,859

8 Claims. (Cl. 9-21) This invention relates to swimmers aids yadapted to be connected to the swimmers feet.

An object of this invention is to provide a swirnrners aid of the type which includes a iin projecting forwardly of the swimmers foot and which includes means attaching the n to the foot i-n such manner that the fin may be swung rearwardly of the swimmers foot to a position where it does not act as a-serioushindrance while climbing a ladder or walking under water or out of the Water. In using swimming aids of the general type which include fins projecting in advance of the swimmers feet, material difficulty is encountered in climbing ladders, especially in pools or in other places where the ladders are of reasonable dimensions in that the tins are large and cumbersome. In addition, skin divers desire to walk along the ocean iloor in the normal course of work. During this time, swim fins are material handicaps and it is completely impractical to attempt to remove the ns and then replace them for subsequent swimming.

A more specic object of the invention is to provide a swim fin which has a-n advance portion adapted to project forwardly of the swimmersfoot, an intermediate portion which underlies the swimmers foot, and a rear portion that constitutes a hinge in that it is connected to the back part of the swimmers foot attachment device and permits the swim fin to swing hingedly therearound from the usable position to the non-usable position of trailing rearwardly of the swimmers foot.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swim iin with a hinge connection to footwear, as a snug-ly'iitting resilient shoe in which the swimmers foot is placed, the swim fin being itted with means which extend over the arch of the footwear and means in which the swimmers toe lits in order to hold the s'wi'rn fm attached to the footwear so that it projects forwardly of the swimmers foot during swimming operations, the swim iin having a' strip at the trailing or rear edge thie'reof: that is attached to the rear part of the footwear so that', upon releasing the fastening devices, the swim fin may be hinged rearwardly of the swimmers foot and permitted to trail therebehind as the swimmer walks or climbs.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the swimmers foot attachment showing it in position where it trails behind the swimmers foot while he is walking or climbing;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the swimmers foot attachment in the position for swimming;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view Patented Sept. 15, 1959 2 .taken on the line 4&4 of Figure 2 and in the direction of the' arrows.

The swimmers foot attachment 10 which constitutes a propulsionv aid for the swimmer comprises two main parts. One part is the device 12 which attached to the foot of the swimmer and the other part is the fin 14 connected with the device 12. It is preferred that the device 12 be a snugly fitting, resilient shoe in which the foot of the swimmer is disposed. This shoe is preferably made of rubber or a rubber-like plastic in order to conform to the contours of the foot and girdle the same. The shoe has an open' toe in order that it may more snugly t about the arch and instep of the swimmers foot.

The iin 14 has a first', forwardly extending, outwardly flared portion 16 with longitudinal ribs 1:8 adding strength and rigidity to the fin. This iin is preferably made of rubber or a rubber-like plastic material. In addition to the front, first portion v16 there is an intermediate second portion 20 'which is tapered inwardly with regard to the first portion, this second, intermediate portion being shapedsimilarly to thebottom 22 or sole part of the foot-conforming shoe. The final, third portion of the lin 14 consists of a strip 24 whose returned end 26 is irmly united to the rear part of the foot-engaging device 12 as by vulcanizing, molding as one piece, or otherwise attaching. The third portion 24 of the iin 14 constitutes a hinge .about which the remainder of the n swings when moving from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 1; that is, the swinging condition of the swimmers foot attachment to the trailing condition of the attachment.

The means for releasably attaching the tin in the swimming position are strap 28 having parts 29 and 30 which extend from the edges of sides 32 and 34. These sides 32 and 34 rise from and constitute a part of the intermediate portion 20 of iin 14. One part Si) of the strap 28 is adjustable as to length, having a standard adjustment device 36 therein. A number of ribs or serrations 38 are formed on one surface of the strap part 3@ and are engageable with the buckle 40 carried by the other strap part 29. Strap 28, when in the engaged condition (Figure ,2),y extends over the instep of device 12 and the swimmers foot.-

Forming a portion'I of the iin-retaining means and coacting with strap 228` to hold the n inthe effective swimming position are the pocket 42 and forward portion of the shoe on' the foot o'f the swimmer. Pocket 42 is formed by a panel 44 whichy is closed toward the front of the fin and opens rearwardly thereof, the edges of the panel being fixed" as by being formed integral or by being otherwise'connected to the upper surface' of fm 14. The sides 32 and 34 merge as a continuation of and with panel 44. Pocket 42 is suiiiciently deep for the swimmers toes and the portion of the foot thereadjacent to enter the pocket. The front part 48 of device 12 also enters the pocket 42, as does the sole part 22 beneath the toes.

In use, the swimmer inserts his foot into the open top 50 of the foot-girdling device `12. With this attachment made, the swimmer is free to walk with the fin 16 trailing his foot. This same condition exists when the swimmer, under water, decides to walk on the bottom or decides to climb ladders or engage in other activities where he does not desire to have the swim iin in the swimming position. f

In order to arrange the swin 1in in swimming position, the foot-girdling device 12 is attached to the intermediate portion 20 of the swin n 14. This is done by inserting the toes of the swimmer, together with the parts of the device 12 as described previously, into the pocket 42. To aid in this operation, the small bail 54 or an equivalent is attached to the pocket panel 44. Then the strap 28 is brought over the instep of the swimmers foot and fastened in place. This retains the swim fin securely in place withvthe front portion 16 protruding in advance of the swimmers foot as is required to serve and function as an aid for the swimmers propulsion.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modications and equivalents may be restorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a swimmers aid which includes a resilient fin and a device attachable to the swimmers foot, the improvement comprising means for hingedly connecting one end of said iin to said device for movement to a walk position behind said device, and means for releasably retaining said n in a swim position in advance of the swimmers foot for use during swimming, said connecting means comprising a flexible strip extending from one end of said fin as a continuation thereof to said device.

2. A swimmers foot attachment comprising a fin, a form fitting shoe adapted to be attached on the swimmers foot, said n having a first portion which is adapted to project forwardly of said device, a second portion which is disposed under said device, and a third portion attached to the back of said shoe, said third portion being exible and constituting a hinge connection for the other portions about which they swing to move said 1in to the rear of said shoe and the swimmers foot whereby said iin trails the swimmers foot for climbing and walking, and means connected to said lin and extending from opposite edges thereof for releasably securing said fin to the swimmers foot in position where said second portion is under the foot and said third portion projects in advance of the foot.

3. A swimmers foot attachment comprising a resilient fin, a shoe adapted to be tted on the swimmers foot, said n having a first portion which extends forwardly of said shoe, a second portion which is disposed under said shoe, and a third portion attached to the back of said shoe, said third portion constituting a hinge connection for the other portions about which they swing to move said iin to the rear of said shoe and the swimmers foot so that said fin is movable to a position where it trails the swimmers foot for climbing and walking, and means connected with said iin and engageable with the toe of said shoe for releasably retaining said n fastened in position on said shoe with said rst portion of said iin extending forwardly of said shoe.

4. The attachment of claim 3 and means secured to opposite edges of said fm for assisting in retaining said i4 n with said rst portion extending forwardly of said shoe.

5. In a swimmers propulsion aid, a iin of resilient material, a shoe, a portion of said iin attached to the rear of said shoe and forming a hinge about which the remainder of said n is movable between a swim position in advance of said shoe and a walking position rearwardly of said shoe for swimming and walking respectively, and means connected with said fin and engageable with said shoe to releasably hold said fin in said position wherein said fin projects forwardly of said shoe.

6. In a swimmers propulsion aid, a 1in of resilient material, a shoe, a portion of said fin attached to the rear of said shoe and forming a hinge about which the remainder of said fin is movable between a swim position in advance of said shoe and a walking position rearwardly of said shoe for swimming and walking respectively, and means connected with said fin and engageable with said shoe to hold said iin in said position wherein said n projects forwardly of said shoe, said holding means including a pocket in said iin into which the toe portion of said shoe is adapted to be inserted.

7. In a swimmers propulsion aid, a iin of resilient material, a shoe, a portion of said iin attached to the rear of said shoe and forming a hinge about which the remainder of said n is movable between a swim position in advance of said shoe and a walking position rearwardly of said shoe for swimming and walking respectively, and means connected with said fin and engageable with said shoe to hold said iin in said position wherein said n projects forwardly of said shoe, said holding means including a pocket in said n into which the toe portion of said shoe is adapted to be inserted, a portion of said n underlying said shoe having sides which rest against the sides of said shoe in order to help retain said shoe fastened with said fin, and a strap secured to said sides and extending over the arch of said shoe for holding said fin firmly fastened in place thereon.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said strap has means for adjusting the effective length thereof and locking means to hold said strap rmly latched.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 915,457 Marrotte Mar. 16, 1909 1,061,264 Bys May 13, 1913 1,626,175 Zimmer Apr. 26, 1927 2,423,571 Wilen July 8, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 130,084 France Apr. 9, 1879 180,524 Austria Dec. 27, 1954 

